Ronaldo wins fourth Ballon d'Or award

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Real Madrid's Portuguese striker Cristiano Ronaldo posing with the Ballon d'Or 2016  Portugal and Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo won the Ballon d'Or award for the fourth time on Monday after claiming the European Championship and Champions League titles in 2016. Ronaldo is now one short of his La Liga rival Lionel Messi's record tally of five. "For me it's a great honour to receive my fourth golden ball. The emotion is like for the first one, it's a dream come true again. I never thought in my mind to win four times. I'm so happy," said Ronaldo, who won the award in 2008, 2013 and 2014. "I take the opportunity to thank all my team mates, from the national team and for Real Madrid. I feel so proud and happy." The Ballon d'Or, which merged with the FIFA World Player of the Year award from 2010-15 to create the FIFA Ballon d'Or, returned to France Football magazine this year, with only journalists voting and not national team coaches and captains.

Bordeaux knock Ligue 1 leaders Nice out of League Cup

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FC Girondins Bordeaux's French head coach Rame Ulrich Ligue 1 leaders Nice were knocked out of the League Cup in the last 16 when they lost 3-2 at Girondins de Bordeaux on Wednesday, while Monaco's awe-inspiring attacking form continued in a 7-0 demolition of Stade Rennais. Monaco's Kylian Mbappe scored a hat-trick as they reached the last eight while holders Paris St Germain, fielding a largely second-string side, beat Lille 3-1. A Jaroslav Plasil goal and Gaetan Laborde's double were enough to see Bordeaux into the next round, while Alassane Plea and Mario Balotelli were on target for Nice at the Chabans Delmas stadium. Czech playmaker Plasil opened the scoring in the 15th minute, beating Nice keeper Walter Benitez with a low angled shot after being set up by Brazilian Malcom's through ball. Labord made it 2-0 seven minutes later after Jeremy Menez's shot was parried into his path by Benitez. Nice striker Plea reduced the arrears three minutes before the interval, dribbling through the defence and finishing from close range after collecting a long pass from Balotelli. Laborde, however, restored Bordeaux's two-goal lead 10 minutes into the second half when Benitez again parried a Menez attempt into his path. Balotelli converted an 83rd-minute penalty to give the visitors hope but the Bordeaux defence held firm.